Head-to-head comparison
National American University-Rapid City vs Sinte Gleska University: which has better ROI?
Option A Rapid City, SD
National American University-Rapid City
- Net price / year
- $31,062
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,325
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Mission, SD
Sinte Gleska University
- Net price / year
- $12,768
- Earnings, 10 years
- $20,948
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but National American University-Rapid City comes closer — median earnings $37,325 against a $124,248 total, vs $20,948 at Sinte Gleska University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | National American University-Rapid City | Sinte Gleska University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,062 | $12,768 |
| Total net cost | $124,248 | $25,536 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,325 | $20,948 |
| Median debt | $29,020 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$344,948 | -$573,776 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, National American University-Rapid City or Sinte Gleska University?
Sinte Gleska University, at $12,768 a year after aid versus $31,062 — a gap of $18,294 a year, or $98,712 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do National American University-Rapid City or Sinte Gleska University graduates earn more?
National American University-Rapid City graduates report a median $37,325 ten years after entry, $16,377 more than the $20,948 at Sinte Gleska University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
15% of students finish at Sinte Gleska University, against 0% at National American University-Rapid City. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.